Memorable Duo Overnight London to Brighton

The London to Brighton overnighter is something I have completed several times with my friend Dr John but believe me, this particular adventure was to prove memorable in more ways than one! 

Straight away, things took an unexpected turn when cycling through Hyde Park travelling south, all of the gates were locked. There were several cyclists on hire bikes trying to lift their bicycles over the locked gates. Knowing that one gate might actually be open, I headed towards it to find it locked. A member of the Parks Security sitting in a car indicated where the open gate was and I travelled through. Despite this, another cyclist could be seen all but throwing their bicycle over the same gate moments later?!

Arriving at our meeting point I saw Dr John waiting. It was good to see him and soon we were off into the night. We turned right at The Old Vic and our adventure truly began. 

It was a mild night and quiet on the roads. There just didn’t seem to be too many people out an about. We knew that there would be rain at some point but as the weather forecasts in the days before our ride has changed frequently, we didn’t really care. 

At our left turn past Clapham and all the busy nightclubs packed with people both inside and out, things got much calmer. On this road we usually spot an urban fox or two going about their business. Soon we saw one and then at least three small fluffy cubs, playfully bounding around. 

As we cycled along we chewed the fat and caught up on all the things we had been up to. (I think that our last ride might have been last December). 

Sticking to our tried and tested route, we soon arrived at Farthing Downs and its cattle grid. This marked the point at which the urban landscape more or less gives way to a more rural aspect. We had a snack and just as we got ready to set off again, a few drops of rain started falling. This was to be followed by a great deal more!

The rain was quite light for a good few miles but very much a constant companion. We arrived Outwood Wimdmill and stopped to take some photos. Construction for this began in 1665 and it is said those working it could see the orange/red glow of the Great Fire of London in 1666. 

At this point - I think - Dr John started to complain about the rainwater in his eyes. 

Just before Turners Hill we stopped an inn that had a seating area outside. We parked our Brompton bikes and tucked into the snacks we had brought with us. 

We approached Turners Hill and perhaps because of the constant rain, it felt much longer than it usually did. In fact this was a feature of any incline. Dr John revealed that the probable cause of his sore eyes was the fact he has used body moisturising lotion after his bath and may have also applied some to his face. 

At certain points Dr John had to stop as his eyes were painful due to the incorrect application of moisturising body lotion on his face. I found out that it was of the avocado variety and made a mental note that should I ever apply moisturising body location, it must not be near my face!

On the wildlife front (in addition to foxes) we also saw a few badgers that darted across our paths. The highlight though was see twe female Red Deer running side by side on the country lane ahead of us and then almost magically disappearing through the hedgerow. 

At the junction in the photo below we would normally turn right and then cycle up the usual route to Ditchling Beacon. Both of us had had enough and knowing there was a much fabled calmer route avoiding considerable gradients, I used my Wahoo to find it. We turned left and then almost immediately right. What an

error of judgement!

Things started off rather well. It was a narrow road that looked as if cars wound stray onto. It was steep at times but nothing we couldn’t handle. This soon changed. The gradient became worse than anything on the usual route and the surface was so terrible we were forced to get off and push. While this happened the rain fell and Dr John could be seen further down the road with an expression on his face like Juliette Stevenson when she cries a lot in ‘Truly Madly Deeply.’ Just when I thought it could not get worse…it did. 

At the top of our new route the road gave way to open countryside. We had to walk along for about a mile before we arrived at the top of Ditchling Beacon - the bit we normally arrive at when cycling up the traditional route. I could have cycled along this quite happily. I mean, I had my G-Line with me after all. However, I kept this to myself as I didn’t want to leave Dr John. In fact I felt a little like James Garner when in ‘The Great Escape’ he helps the character Donald Pleasance plays! 

Eventually we made it to the open road with the rain started to subside a little. It was then straight to the station and on our respect train - me central London and Dr John slightly further afield. 

On the train I felt wet because I was soaking. My gloves were heavy with the weight of water and I started to steam slightly as the water evaporated. I also had to fight staying awake. 

At Farringdon I got off and after cycling at a gentle pace, was soon  back home. After a shower, some food and a few hours sleep I felt fine. (After my shower, I did not apply moisturising body lotion). 

Dr John was okay after the ride too and as always, I thank him for his company. Our rides together are never dull, always memorable and I suspect it will not be too long before we do something like this all over again. 

Dr John 

So dear reader as always, until next time stay safe out there!

Wahoo are pretty amazing to say the least

Hello dear reader. I thought I would update you on the state of play in terms of my Wahoo Roam. Having contacted Wahoo's customer service I have to say it has been nothing short of incredible. I will explain. 

You might have read on my previous blog post CLICK HERE that my trusty Wahoo Roam pretty much gave up the ghost in terms of its battery keeping the charge. Contacting Wahoo, they asked me to perform a few tests so that the battery data could be verified. I didn't have the receipt as I could not find it at all but then it dawned on me that I may have actually bought it from Wahoo. Once all this had been sorted out, I confirmed my address and was informed that a replacement unit would be out to me within 5-7 working days. To my amazement and shock, the tracking information came through a few hours later and in a little over 24-hours the replacement was delivered. 

I had a Roam V1 and I was sent the V2 unit - possibly as the V1 is pretty much out of production. I do not know if this is a refurbished unit but I can say it does appear to be as new. 

Taking it out on a ride, the battery life is back to what I remember my original to be like and the V2 has some slight enhancements to the screen, its GPS prowess, the raised buttons and the fact it is now charged via USB C rather than Micro USB. 

I bought the Roam in 2019 and used it frequently in all weather conditions. It helped me to navigate to all sorts of destination and has been indispensable. Wahoo's customer service has been incredible and my loyalty to them is pretty much confirmed by this and previous interactions. I can see it helping me on all sorts of adventures.

Until next time, stay safe out there people. 

Wahoo Roam sadly dying

It is safe to say that I am a bit of a Wahoo fan. The Roam is the thirds of their navigation devices I have owned but sadly it looks as if it is coming to the end of its life. 

On the recent night ride to Southend, the battery drained to zero - something it has now done on two other occasions - where it normally lasts the entire night with ease. 

The Wahoo has allowed me to navigate of all sorts of rides and given me the confidence to do so, knowing that it is very reliable. I have tried other navigation devices from other well know manufacturers (you can guess who) but never got on with them in any way. I certainly didn't have any faith that I could navigate on an overnight ride to the coast. 

I sent an email to Wahoo asking whether anything could be done - perhaps a battery replacement - but I now suspect this is not possible. I do not have a receipt for it, despite searching for for it, which means it is quite possibly the end of the road for it. 

I could power it via a portable juice pack but this is far from ideal. In addition I did this on the recent Southend run but it didn't really help that much as the battery just kept giving up. 

I will let you know how I get on and what I end up doing but I suspect its adventures have come to an end. 

Until next time, stay safe out there people. 

Overnight G-Line London to Southend overnight

Friday night in Saturday morning marked the second night ride to the coast of the season. This adventure was to the classic location Southend-on-Sea. After much deliberation, I decided to take my G-Line for its second nocturnal outing and on several levels I am glad that I did. 

The start point was the usual not a million miles away from the London Eye. As my cycle from north London was pretty plain sailing, I arrived with time to spare. Not wanting to just hang around, I took a few photos on Roupell Street. As it was really quite there and the surrounding area, it enhanced the almost travelling back in time aspect. 

At the start point lots of the regulars started appearing along with a few new faces. Geoff arrived in good time - again on big wheels - but this time there were two other Brompton riders. After our roll call and safety briefing by our ride leader and gentleman that is Greg, we were off into a rather mild night. 

Our pace was purposeful and I cannot be certain but the route seemed to be a little old school and very similar to days of Simon Legg (the original founder of these rides). I liked it. As always, we rode for a few miles and stopped to regroup at various points along the way. All sorts of bicycles were out in force and I think that all the main groups were accounted for. Some had the power of electric and there were times on some of the longer I longed for the joys of my Brompton Electric. 

After rough;y 25 miles in we reached sanctuary at Doddinghurst Scouts. There we found lots of sandwiches and some brilliant oaty biscuits that I could have quite happily eaten every last one of. Again, staying awake was an issue and conversation merely a series of mumbled words.  The welcome was warm and friendly and after about an hour we bid our farewells and headed out into the early, pre-dawn morning.  

As soon as I stepped outside I felt the cold. Fingerless gloves were replaced by those allowing for a full finger covering. A gillet was put over my jacket and a snood (can there be a more useful item of clothing) was put on. For the first few miles after we set off I felt cold but gradually started to feel okay again. 

We had some beautiful scenes ahead of us. The sky was clear, the sun started to rise and a chorus of birdsong guided our way forward. 

All the magical elements you try to explain to people when you tell them what you did at the weekend and why, played out before us. It was wonderful. 

I found my G-Line to be invaluable on the rougher road surfaces. Nothing really bothered it. It just silently glided over it. The G in G-Line is usually taken as meaning gravel, but I think a case could be argued for glide. Again, it confirmed why I bought this particular Brompton. 

Another thing about the G-Line is that I do seem to be able to ascend hills a little easier than on one of my 6x speed Brompton bikes with a 44T chainring. It just seems a little easier. 

We passed the infamous ford and a few participants cycled through it. I never have and always taken the little path that runs parallel to it. Believe me, I have seen this a great deal deeper and the water really can sit a great deal higher!

The next few miles we took in some lovely Essex countryside and as our ride leader didn't want us to arrive too early (the breakfast stop was scheduled for 08:00) photo opportunities were actively encouraged.

 

We stopped at Stock Windmill, always a great sight to see. Built in the early 1800s and a Grade II listed building, its sails no longer turn but it is a lovely building and always enhanced in the early sunrise lighting. Anyway, surely spotting a windmill on a ride is worth bonus points?!

At Hanningfield Reservoir, pretty much everyone stopped to take some photos and rightly so. Being almost 1000 acres in size it is just outside the top ten reservoirs in England. With that orange sky, stunning photos were almost guaranteed. 

Not far from this we were all taking photos again, this time at Battlebridge which spans the River Crouch. From there, we cycled with clear, blue skies and with the sun trying to make its presence felt. 

At the end of night rides I am the sort of person who likes to get home and rarely do I stay for breakfast. With local knowledge from Geoff, Leigh-on-Sea station was simply at the end of a road down a hill. Saying my goodbyes to Geoff I headed down said hill and arrived at the station. 

My train bound for Fenchurch Street was just pulling in as I stepped onto the platform and I boarded it. I was back in london by 08:45 and after about half an hour of gentle cycling, back home. 

At home, I had a bite to eat, a shower and retired to my bed for a few hours of blissful sleep with an entourage of Maine Coon cats to keep me company - despite the fact they had just slept all night. 

Many thanks to the ride organisers, Greg for leading and to Geoff for his company. As always, I look forward to the next nocturnal adventure, which I hope to be sooner rather than later. 

Until next time, stay safe out there people!

Reliving TV memories on a Brompton G-Line

Hello there, dear reader. 

The recent blog post where I cycled to several of the locations where the film, 'About a boy' were filmed, was very much something I wanted to do. Recently, I discovered a location that was pretty much for my eldest Orangette. 

I got to it on on G-Line but there won't be the usual photos of it. The person that joined me does not care for photos of them and a condition of them coming was that I would only take the sort of photos you can see below. I kept to my word - despite the incredible temptations to sneak a few of the lovely orange number in!

The cycle ride was just over 21 miles. The start point was the Grand Union Canal at Paddington and the end at Stockers Farm in Rickmansworth. The entire journey from these two points was along the canal towpath and represented my longest off-road moment on the G-Line. 

My G-Line performed really well on the towpath and that was with the Continental Urban Contact tyres I recently changed to from the originals. The G-Line really does provide a much more comfy ride on anything approaching rough or ropey surface, just gliding along. My regular Brompton bikes can also easily cope with all this too, but not as comfortably or as quickly.

It really was a glorious morning. The sun was trying to make an appearance. White, fluffy clouds just seemed to hang as there was only the gentlest of breezes. We saw quite a few WWII pillboxes along the canal. They are a reminder of the 'Outer London Defence Ring' where - usually - soldiers from the Home Guard could fire on the enemy. 

As if it were meant, as we reached the target location, horses seemed to be everywhere. On the opposite side of the canal they ate, trotted and galloped. They all looked as if they were having a wonderful time of it. 

Once we reached Stockers House, we knew that we were close. Stockers House, build 1861-2 is a Grade II listed beauty, originally built as a residence for the collector of coal dues on the Grand Union Canal for the Corporation of London. With the railway becoming a more popular way of transporting goods the house was sold only a few years later in 1869.

Just up the road stands Stockers Farm and its house. The television series that eldest Orangette absolutely loved when she was little was, 'The Adventures of Black Beauty.' I pretty much cycled all this way to find it and get some photos for her. When she was little, I remember buying the series on DVD for her and she watched it avidly. It perhaps explains why she wanted to go horse riding and loves horses. 

This television series ran between 1927 and 1974, featuring 52 episodes. I know them well too from reruns when I was little myself but especially from watching them with both Orangettes. One of its stars was the actress, Judi Bowker who played the part of Vicky Gordan. She still looks as elegant as ever and can occasionally be seen in N6. 

The house and the surrounding area has featured in many films and television programmes. I was rather pleased to find out from a knowledgeable local who took a shine to my G-Line that a few episodes of 'Dick Turpin' starring Richard O'Sullivan were filmed there, but this did not impress eldest Orangette one bit.

It really is a lovely house and is set in stunning surroundings. It is also quite fitting that all things equestrian obviously feature in its current DNA. After all this, we decided to head to a not too far away tube station and get back into north London. As we did this, the famous theme tune by Denis King was constantly playing in my head on a loop. As I type this, it still is!

I must confess to not particularly liking cycling along the canal but doing so on the G-Line definitely made things rather pleasant. Of course, we did have to blow the dust off the DVDs and play a few episodes. (Didn't help removing that theme tune from my head)!

Until next time, stay safe out there people!